Mail box



Nov. 12, 1929.

A. A. CONTENT MAIL BOX Filed Feb. 7, 193

2 Sheets-Sheet Attornqy Nov. 12, 1929.

A. A. CQNTENT MAIL BOX Filed e 1928' 2 Sheets-Shqet 2 /7 5 I //a /z /9 7e 7 /6 Inventor v7. fl 6 07772277 flttorrig' Patented Nov. 12, 1929 I PATENT orrica ARTH R ALFRED ,ooNrEN'r; QF'YAKIMA, WASHINGTON MAID Box Application .filed February '2', 1928: "Ser1alNo;'252,515;

The present invention relates to improvements; in, deposit and collection receptac'les and, has: reference more, particularly to a v 7 mail box adaptechto be; positioned inlocalitieswhere, due to concentration of users, it

is desirable to most conveniently unite the operations Of depositing, collecting and; distributing mail.

One of the important objects ofgthe present? inventionis toprovide a mail box of the above mentioned character wh-1ch:1ncludes a mall depositing compartment to whlch access is; had only by. the mail ;'carrier, individual i dlStIlbHtlIlg, compartments being arranged on. opposite; sides of. the collection compartmentand raccessible; to the, JIICllVldllLl users of said compartments whereby the, mail de-1 posited}tl1er'ein, 1nay be removed by the respective,individualusers, said collection; com- I 0 partmentbemg m commumcat on with the,

inner ends oftherespective distributingcom-i partments whereby the mail carrier may: properlydistribute the mail in ther spective.

distributing coin'p'artments includes iameans. for. enablingthe;individual users of;a mail boxto deposit moneyplaCedw in envelopes in; thecollection compartment e0v for the purpose, of procuring-stamps, themail carrier having access to the money; receivin;g

box a when the closure for the collection compartment-isopenfl 5 Astill'further object is to. provide amail boxoftheabove mentioned character'which ismounted on a concretje base in a particular manner; the niail box being'further' reinforced: wherebytlie, same. is, rendered strongwandq durable. U

Another obj ect is, to provide .a mail box of the i above mentioned character which will save considerable time a'ndlaboron the-Ipart of the mail ;carrier: and furthermore the deposit compartmentsare soyconstructedaas to; precludelthe users of said compartments from gai'mng access to any otherofthe deposit compartments'fotlier thantheir: own.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will zbecome' apparent during; the

mtcourse of? the; followingidescription when.

\ A still further object; is to, providea mail; box of the above mentioned character which taken in connectioniwiththe accompanying drawings. I c

In the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 isafront elevation of my improvedfmail box.

Figure 2 1s a sideeleyation thereof.

Figure 3 isravvertical sectional ,vieWI taken substantially. upon the line 33* of Fig 11 122.;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section takenyapontheline H of Figure 1', I

that .isinitially set in the concrete base'before the: same has hardenedzextends through this gusset: to provlde: a means fore rigidly. secureing the frame on the top of the concrete base:

In Figure 5;=,of:' the drawings, the particular 1 construction ioftthe frame and the gusset. as

Well "asthe, securing iboltforthe same is clear.- 1y: illustrated.

A'substantially rectangularshaped casing Gth'atis closed-at its top is mounted on the concrete base and this casing is constructed of anysuitable metal. The loweredge portions l of the sides of the rectangular casing are adapted to' be rigidly secured to the vertical portions of the respective'rsides ofith e angular frame 3' by any appropriate fasten ing means whereby; to .provide a rigid con" struction; 'Angleironzreinforcing; elements 7 are provided for the corners ofthel rec tangular casingaasclearly illustrated in Figure-4s v An arcuatevshaped roof 8' is :secured on the top of the: casing and a sign board 9' is:

A pair of parallel spaced vertical parti tions 11 and 12 extend between one pair of opposed sides of the rectangular casing 6 at the central portion thereof whereby to form or provide a central mail collection compartment 13, and these partitions extend for the full height of the casing as clearly illustrated in Figure 3.

A series of horizontal partitions 14 extend from the outer faces of the vertical parti tions to the adjacent sides of the casing in theend compartments and also arranged in the end compartments arethe vertical partitions 15 that'cooperate with the horizontal partitions 14: to divide the outermost compartments formed by the central partitions 11 and 12 and the adjacentsides of the casing into a plurality of individual distributing compartments 16. This construction is clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. The inner endwallof each of the individual distributing compartments is formed with an opening 17 that communicates with the mail collection compartment 18 and the outer or front sides of the individual compartments are each provided with an opening 18 which is normally closed by means of a swinging door 19 and a key controlled lock is associated with each door and each look is slightly difierent in its construction so that each of the individual users of the compartments 16 canonly obtain access to his particular compartment by the em ployment of the proper key in the manner well known in the art.

One end of the mail collection compartment 13 is provided with an enlarged opening20 that is normally closed by the swinging door 21 and a key controlled lock is associated with this particular closure, and only the mail carrier has or is furnished with a key that will open the lock in order to per-- mit access to the compartment 13. The door 21 is formed with a slot'22 whereby letters may be deposited in the central compartment 13 for collection by. the mail carrier, and this door is furthermore formed withthe slot 23 as shown very clearly in Figures'l and 4.

A box 24 is secured on'the inner face or side of the swinging door 21 and is open at its top for disposition directly beneath the slot 23 for the purpose of receiving money placed in envelopes and deposited by the individual users of the distributing compartments 16 small top portion of the receptacle 25 provides a bottom for the mail collection compartment.

The forward end of the receptacle 25 is open and the portion of the casing 6 which is disposed adjacent the open forward end of the package receiving receptacle is formed with an opening to permit the users of the individual compartments to gain access to the receptacle 25. A key controlled lock is associated with the swinging door 27 that provides a closure for the open forward end of the package receiving receptacle 25.

The names of the individuals having the use of the respective compartments 16 may be posted on the sign board 28 provided therefor on the side of the casing 6 which is pro vided with the swinging closure 21 that is accessible only to the mail carrier.

In use the mail carrier unlocks the door 21 and removes the letters that have been deposited in the compartment 13 through the slot 22and also the envelopes containing the money for the stamps that are received in the box 2 1. He then lifts the door 26 upwardly I whereby the packages placed in thereceptacle 25 for collection may be removed by the mail carrier. i

The letters destined for the individuals having compartments in the mail box are then deposited in the respective compartments 16 through the openings 17 The door 21 is then locked.

Individuals procure their mail from their respective compartments 16 by openingthe door of their particular compartment and if desired, each door may be formed with a window in order that the user can readily ascertain whether or not there is any mail in his box or compartment without having to open the door. The door 27 for the ackage receptacle 25 is also opened by the in ividual users, so that they may obtain any packages deposited therein addressed to them.

The provision of a mail box of the above mentioned character will save considerable time and labor on the part of the mail carrier and furthermore due to its construction, the same will be compact and will also be further strong and durable. V

. While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood distributing compartments on each side of the 7 central collection compartment, one end of i the collection compartment being open, a door for the opening, a key controlled lock for the door, the outer ends of the distributing compartments being open, doors therefor, a key controlled lock for each of the last mentioned doors, the inner ends of the distributing compartments being formed with openings for communication with the central mail collection compartment.

2. In a mail box, a casing including a central mail collection compartment, one end thereof being open, a series of individual mail distributing compartments arranged on opposite sides of the central compartment and communicating at their inner ends with said collection compartment, the outer end of each mail distributing compartment being open, a door therefor, a key controlled lock for each door.

3. In a mail box, a casing, a pair of parallel spaced vertical partitions arranged in the central portion thereof whereby to form a central mail collection compartment and end distributing compartments, horizontal and vertical partitions arranged in each of the end compartments for dividing the same into individual distributing compartments, the inner end wall of each of said individual distributing compartments being formed with a slot for affording communication between said compartments and the central collection compartment, the outer end of each in- I dividual mail distributing compartment being open, a closure therefor, one end of the collection compartment being opened and a closure therefor.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ARTHUR ALFRED CONTENT. 

